Pharmacists and the importance of a good relationship
We've all discussed the difficulty of finding a really good pharmacist and the dramas that can occur when you don't have one. There is also the issue of pharmacies being part of a chain and having a high turnover of staff.
What happens when it turns out that your pharmacist knows you or becomes involved in you life?
My partner Pete plays golf every weekend and is a titled member of his golf club. Today he came home and said to me 'do you know so and so...because I played golf with him today'. (we'll call him Sam for ease)
I'll give you a bit of background before I tell the rest of the story so that you can understand how I feel. The pharmacy that I go to now is a chain pharmacist but they do have a particular pharmacist on often that I have just developed a good relationship with, Sam. He's a great guy and never raises an eyebrow because of my age and my meds. I used to go to another pharmacy but my mother works there and I knew a lot of the girls (this was before I understood the issues that we face as pm patients. They never treated me badly but I feared the gossip.
Anyway, I moved to this chain pharmacist that had a different pharmacist working before Sam started. The first time I was there the girls yelled Oxycontin across the room and I told them off. It happened again and I did the same thing except this time I went to the store manager as well. They were very sorry and the pharmacist involved cried. I stayed there but knew that the girls were a bit scared of me. Then Sam started working there and I started to trust him for advice.
In talking to my partner he recognised my name and asked my partner if I was the girl he'd been serving in the pharmacy. My partner, being the lovely trusting soul he is, said yes and explained most of my issues to Sam. Sam apparently was wonderful and commented on how difficult it is to treat CP and that he's helped me sort things out on a number of occassions. He also told my partner that he felt he'd developed a good relationship with me and tried to support me wherever possible (I ask a fair few questions about the meds I take and Cymbalta which was just added in). He and my partner organised a golf trip in the future with all of us as well.
I guess the moral of this story is that it is a very small world and it is scary how easy it is for word to get out - this caused a shiver of fear for me because I don't tell people what meds I'm taking. I trust Sam and that's lucky because his exgirlfriend is also a friend of mine. I am hopeful that this doesn't come back to haunt me. This is yet another reason why I'm glad that I've found a pharmacist that I trust and stuck with him. The risks that we are put in as CP patients is incredible and enough to make you paranoid...I can't believe that this happened but am relieved about the choices I have made with the help of others on this board. Thank you.
Re: Pharmacists and the importance of a good relationship
Juliet,
I don't know the laws in your country, but the scenario you gave would be a violation of the HIPPA, or medical privacy laws in the US. Medical professionals, including pharmacists, cannot legally talk about any paitient to any one who is not another medical professional specifically involved in the persons care. Here, the pharmacist could not have said anything about his professional relationship with you to your partner without your written permission. In hospitals nurses, and technicians have to refer to paitients by room number and bed a or b if it is a double room, they cannot say "Mary needs some water" but have to say "Room 32A needs some water".
I don't know if this is as strictly enforced here as it should be. I am somewhat cautious about the pharmacy techs in the small town I live in. I'm in the process of moving things, everything but schedule II mail order, and the schedule II to my old pharmacy. I live in a rural area on the outskirts of a major metropolitan area, and work downtown in the largest city so I've got some options.
Even though the HIPPA regulations cause some legal problems with having to have documents set up ahead of time to give permission for spouses, etc. to have access, I think it's a good thing. I've heard people complain because they didn't set up the legal access to allow their spouse to pick up x-rays or whatever and they had to go in person on crutches, it gives you protection from the pharmacy tech yelling "where's her oxycontin" across the room.
Re: Pharmacists and the importance of a good relationship
Quote:
Originally Posted by tiggertoo2174
I don't know the laws in your country, but the scenario you gave would be a violation of the HIPPA, or medical privacy laws in the US. Medical professionals, including pharmacists, cannot legally talk about any paitient to any one who is not another medical professional specifically involved in the persons care. Here, the pharmacist could not have said anything about his professional relationship with you to your partner without your written permission.
This is absolutely correct. I'm sure the pharmacist meant no harm, and in fact, was probably at ease because of your relationship with him....But had this happened in the US, it would have been a major HIPPA violation. It's only as big of a situation as you make it out to be...If you don't care, then not big deal.....But, if you are bothered by it, then it's a big issue.
I think I would go in and speak to Sam and tell him in a very nice way that you spoke to Pete and how much fun Pete had and some other friendly small talk. However, somewhere in the conversation, make a comment about how you really want to keep your medical conditions confidential and you don't mind him speaking to Pete about it, but that you have chosen to keep your condition very confidential and how much you appreciate his support on things.
Re: Pharmacists and the importance of a good relationship
Thanks for the info Tigger and Ex. It could have been a very risky situation which is why I posted. We have the same legislations here to protect privacy. They are not as strong as the dr to patient privacy act but pharmacists are not allowed to share drug information etc. Sam did cross a fine line but I've interogated Pete extensively (sorry, that's the only word for it because it could have put me at risk and I was very worried at first) and no drugs were mentioned and Pete mentioned chronic pain first.
I am going to do exactly what you suggested today, Ex. I'm also going to have to let him in on my 'story' and that I don't tell anyone about my meds. I don't mind his and Pete's friendship but there will have to be guidelines.
I considered last night about whether or not I will stick with Sam. If our chat today (hopefully he'll be there) goes well, then I will. He's just so supportive. It did make me think that if he leaves, I'm reluctant to form another close relationship with a pharmacist again. We are a city of 280 000 and it's just too small. This could have ended really badly. My partner's father also plays golf and I don't want him to know absolutely anything about my meds - imagine if Sam was a gossip?! My partner has assured me that he was 100% trustworthy but that chat will still be necessary.
Re: Pharmacists and the importance of a good relationship
Quote:
Originally Posted by Juliet31
I am going to do exactly what you suggested today, Ex. I'm also going to have to let him in on my 'story' and that I don't tell anyone about my meds. I don't mind his and Pete's friendship but there will have to be guidelines.
Good idea to let him in on your story. Since he's already been very supportive, it makes the most sense to try to stay with him....And if you let him under the tent a bit re: your condition(s), he'll probably be even more supportive.
Quote:
This could have ended really badly. My partner's father also plays golf and I don't want him to know absolutely anything about my meds - imagine if Sam was a gossip?! My partner has assured me that he was 100% trustworthy but that chat will still be necessary.
Would you change pharmacists?
Given your circumstances, I would tell Sam exactly how you feel....That you don't want Pete's father to know anything about your situation...Maybe even say something like...."just wanted to let you know that I really don't want Pete's father knowing about my meds and / or my situation...Thought I would mention it to you since you may run into him golfing as well and think that because he's almost like family, that he knows everything....He does not".....Something like that. And you could also work in something like "I am very particular about my confidentiality and given some of the things that are involved with my case, legally, confidentiality is of the utmost importance....Again, I don't mind one bit that you and Pete talk, but outside of you two, my Doc is the only other person who knows what I'm going through." That last sentence will really drive home the point, I think.
Obviously, if he can't respect your confidentiality, then you'd have no choice but to switch, but I really don't think it will rise to that level....This is why I would nip it in the bud and talk to Sam sooner rather than later.
Email me if you want to talk in more detail....I'm sure we'll talk soon anyway.
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